Off the Radar

When Adam Met isn’t playing bass or recording albums with his brothers in the sensational pop-rock band AJR, he finds novel ways of keeping busy. Adam founded a renewable energy and climate policy nonprofit, earned a PhD in Human Rights Law, and he also teaches at Columbia University. In his spare time, Adam Met recently wrote a book, Amplify, about activism in the art and music scenes. Climate ch...

As the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season begins, Jamie Rhome, Deputy Director of the National Hurricane Center, joins Off The Radar to discuss how hurricane science and communication have evolved over his 26-year career. While forecasting accuracy has reached new heights, getting life-saving information to communities remains a critical challenge. Jamie reveals the Hurricane Center's lesser-known fie...

Artificial intelligence is everywhere – some people feel it’s unavoidable and needs to be embraced. After all, it can save time and has the potential to make writing, editing, and researching drastically easier. But what about weather forecasting? And what happens when people use this technology with bad intentions? In this episode, Emily talks with two meteorologists with very different AI experi...

After a wildfire is put out, there’s another risk that develops, one that’s far more deadly than the fire itself: rain. While water might seem like nature’s remedy for parched and fire-ravaged landscapes, heavy rainfall can trigger catastrophic mudslides and flash floods in burned areas. That’s because the fire has destroyed the plants and trees whose roots help stabilize the ground. Without livin...

When Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina last September, it left a trail of destruction that thrust communities back to a pre-modern era. In Asheville, TV news anchors Katie Killen and Karen Zatkulak found themselves simultaneously reporting on a disaster...and living through it with their families. Katie and Karen are not just reporters — they're also mothers and hosts of the "Anch...

In this episode, veteran storm chaser Warren Faidley discusses Oklahoma's controversial legislation that would restrict independent storm chasers while giving local television stations preferential access during severe weather events. With decades of experience in the field, Faidley explains why independent chasers are crucial for public safety, providing real-time ground verification that radar a...

This Earth Day, we’re celebrating a triumph of human endeavor: the healing of the ozone layer! Many listeners will remember the hole that formed in the ozone layer, due in large part to human-made chemicals like chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs. My guest this week is Dr. Paul Newman, a Senior Scientist at the University of Maryland Baltimore and retired NASA Chief of Atmospheric Sciences. We’ll dive i...

In Jurassic Park, scientists bio-engineered dinosaurs by splicing preserved dino DNA with modern-day frog DNA. It sounded like science fiction…until now. A real-life biotech company with visions of “de-extinction” recently spliced gray wolf DNA with that of the dire wolf, a mammal that’s been extinct for thousands of years. And they have plans to do the same thing with other extinct species. This...

Do you know what NOAA does? Or why this federal agency has (controversially) been in the news lately? With important offices like the National Weather Service and the National Ocean Service, NOAA – the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – collects valuable data and conducts essential research that can mean the difference between national safety and widespread tragedy. On today’s episo...

Today we pull back the curtain on baseball's most invisible yet game-altering force: weather. In this episode, we're unraveling the meteorological mysteries that can transform a seemingly ordinary pitch into a moment of sporting legend. With two decades of sideline expertise, veteran sports reporter Morgan Adsit brings firsthand accounts of how atmospheric conditions have shaped baseball's most me...

In honor of Women's History Month, this episode honors some of the most inspiring women in meteorological history, spotlighting trailblazing figures who shattered barriers in a field traditionally dominated by men. We’ll also hear from two current industry leaders: Jen Carfagno, a trusted weather anchor at The Weather Channel for 27 years, and Tanja Fransen, the Meteorologist in Charge at the Nati...

Spring begins this week, so let's dive into the pages of North America's oldest continuously published periodical. Join us as we sit down with Carol Connare, editor-in-chief of The Old Farmer's Almanac to uncover the mysterious methods behind their legendary weather predictions and seasonal forecasts. How has this publication survived for more than two centuries? What's in their secretive forecast...

As spring break approaches, thousands will flock to beaches worldwide, but few understand the invisible threat of rip currents lurking beneath those inviting waters. In this potentially life-saving episode, we dive into both the science and survival of these powerful water channels. Ocean safety expert Bruckner Chase shares what you need to look for the minute you step onto the beach, while Greg D...

The Greek Islands might make you think of turquoise waters, stunning architecture, and Meryl Streep singing ABBA. But the island of Santorini – which was formed by volcanic activity – has a destructive past. In early 2025, over 20,000 small earthquakes prompted a Santorini evacuation. Geologist Shawn Willsey discusses the quakes on Santorini, and dives into the island's destructive past as well as...

Artificial Intelligence has become a hot-button issue, with questions about AI accuracy and precision. But this week, we're exploring the role of artificial intelligence in weather forecasting! Come Off the Radar with us as we learn about how generative AI modeling can now use historical weather data to make hyper-local predictions about future weather probabilities. We'll be talking to Dr. Amy Mc...

This week Emily sits down with Alan Sealls, President-elect of the American Meteorological Society, to uncover the remarkable but often overlooked contributions of African American meteorologists. From pioneering weather observers to modern-day scientists, these trailblazers didn't just forecast the weather—they transformed the field of meteorology. Sealls, a veteran broadcaster, author and educat...

When a climbing expedition discovered a century-old leather boot in 2024, they weren't just finding a piece of gear – they were unearthing a clue to mountaineering's greatest mystery. Join meteorologist Emily Gracey as she investigates how climate change is exposing Mount Everest's long-buried secrets, including remains from the legendary 1924 expedition of George Mallory and Andrew "Sandy" Irvine...

This weekend it will host the Super Bowl LIX, but in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans Superdome became a shelter of last resort for nearly 30,000 residents, only to suffer catastrophic damage that left those seeking safety in dire conditions. This episode tells the story of this iconic structure's darkest chapter and its remarkable resurrection. We'll sit down with the architect, Tre...

Groundhog Day is coming up this weekend so, move over Phil- the real weather experts are stepping into the spotlight! Join us as we chat with Climate Central meteorologists Bernadette Woods and Shel Winkley, fresh from the American Meteorological Society's annual meeting. They'll share their personal and professional take on our favorite furry forecaster while giving us their takeaways from Americ...

In this first installment of a two-part series, we are exploring the changing face of Mount Everest through the experiences of Scott Thuman, news anchor at 7 News Washington, DC, who trekked beyond Everest's base camp. Through Thuman's account, you'll learn about the brutal conditions of high-altitude hiking – from the oxygen-starved air to the punishing winds and subzero temperatures – while disc...

Have you ever wondered how tsunamis are detected? We recently spoke with a survivor of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. This week we’re talking with Dr. Stuart Weinstein, Deputy Director of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. We’ll discuss the tsunami warning system, emergency evacuation, and why the 2004 tsunami was so deadly. We’ll also cover the possibility of a freshwater tsunami in the Great La...

Join meteorologists Emily Gracey and Andrew Buck Michael as they countdown Off the Radar's most memorable episodes from 2024. From flying into the eye of a Category 5 with hurricane hunters to exploring the real science behind Hollywood weather movies like "The Perfect Storm" and "Twister," this special episode revisits a year of extraordinary weather stories. Discover how cutting-edge wind modeli...

A massive 9.1 magnitude earthquake under the ocean. A series of tsunami waves moving almost 500 miles an hour. Nearly a quarter of a million people dead across 14 countries. Today we’re going off the radar to talk about one of the largest seismic events ever recorded: the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, also known as the Boxing Day Tsunami. My guest this week is marine biologist Dr. Dway...

The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season has come to an end. In this episode, Deputy Director Jamie Rhome reveals how the National Hurricane Center is transforming hurricane communication by shifting focus from technical storm tracking to human-centered hazard messaging. The conversation explores innovative communication strategies that prioritize saving lives, emphasizing the critical importance of mak...

You may have heard the term “atmospheric river” in recent years – but what does it mean? Did you know that it’s literally akin to a river in the sky? Or that they carry water vapor content that’s comparable to twenty-five Mississippi Rivers? Today we’re going Off The Radar to discuss ARs with the scientist that put this weather phenomenon on the map. Dr. Marty Ralph is the Director of the Center f...